The ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) has started disbanding its branch organisations and is setting up 36 new ones for the coming elections.

The decision means that Warwick East MP Dale Butler's political ambitions are on hold again as he has to go through a revamped candidate selection process.

Mr. Butler had originally staked out Warwick South East (constituency 24) for election purposes and spent some months and thousands of dollars canvassing the area before the Warwick branch put the brakes on that and offered him Warwick North East (number 25) instead which he accepted.

Mr. Butler said yesterday that he had received a letter from the Premier saying that the current branches will be disbanded and 36 new branches will be set up which will nominate who runs where.

"In other words, hint hint, you prematurely accepted the decision of the (Warwick) branch," said a clearly frustrated Mr. Butler.

The PLP had changed its constitution to allow for organisational changes which would entail one branch for each electoral constituency.

With electoral reforms which came into effect this year, that means 36 new branches have to be set up. Party chairman Neville Tyrell has in recent weeks been reticent to say how candidates will be selected.

The Royal Gazette understands that the Hamilton and Smiths branches have already met to discuss the reforms.

A meeting to select officers for the Warwick North East branch was called for last night, according to Mr. Butler who complained that he was only emailed details of the meeting at the last minute despite the fact that branch members in the constituency were informed beforehand by letter.

But his friend and supporter Rodney Smith, who lives in the constituency, did not receive a letter, he said.

Mr. Butler, who has been critical of his party, is generally viewed as a hardworking MP in the area.

Despite a degree of scepticism, Mr. Butler ruled out running as an independent, when asked.

"I'm giving no consideration to running as an independent because I'm polling very well for the PLP in 25," he said last night.

"I have had no indication that I will not be selected."

Whoever is picked for the constituency will be running against lawyer Mark Pettingill who was last week announced as the United Bermuda Party's candidate.

Once the branches are in place, they will recommend candidates to a candidates selection committee, chaired by Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott. That committee's recommendation will be passed to the executive committee which will make a recommendation to the party's Central Committee.

The process adds a step to previously established procedure which had the branch's recommendation going straight to the Central Committee.

Mr. Tyrell could not be contacted for comment last night.